Elaine Augusta Johnson

Elaine Augusta Johnson

Age 103, of Richfield, died peacefully on November 14, 2022, following a brief illness. Elaine was born on November 20, 1918, in Minneapolis to August and Ruth (Carlson) Lenz. She grew up in south Minneapolis where she graduated from South High School and attended Minneapolis Business College. She met her husband, Bob, through friends at Ebeneezer Lutheran Church. They married before Bob went overseas in WWII and following the war, eventually settled in Richfield where Elaine lived the rest of her life. After raising her children, Elaine was employed as an abstract recorder at Title Insurance Company (now Old Republic).

Elaine was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Beloved by all who knew her, she is described as loving, kind, and full of grace. Elaine possessed a strong spirit and demonstrated incredible resilience and courage when faced with life’s challenges. She was a sweet person with a great sense of humor and competitive streak who enjoyed winning at bridge and “spite”. The simple pleasures of life brought her joy; she loved baking and sharing cookies, pumpkin bread, or a rhubarb pie with family and friends. She enjoyed gardening, reading, sewing and crafts. Most of all she thrived on time with her family and especially her granddaughters; holidays, trips and the annual family vacation with her granddaughters at Smith Lake were highlights. Face Timing with her only great grandchild, Alice Marie, was a source of immense joy. She belonged to Woodlake Lutheran Church for over 50 years and enjoyed Wednesday matins, a painting and crafts group, and a trip to Europe with her many church friends.

Preceded in death by husband, Robert Johnson; granddaughter, Hannah Marie Johnson LeBlanc; siblings, Theodore (Evelyn) Lenz and Theodora (John) Pregler; siblings-in-law, Wayne (Nathalie) Johnson and Marilyn (Kenneth) Larson.

Elaine’s survivors include her children, Cynthia (Wendell Vandersluis) Marsh and Scott (Anne) Johnson; grandchildren, Claire (Dan Newman) Johnson and Martha Johnson; great-granddaughter, Alice Marie Johnson Newman; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.